Thai Iced Tea Popsicles

Instructions

1. Brew the tea
   In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat, add the Thai tea bags or loose tea, and let steep for 5 minutes. If using loose tea, strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
2. Add sweeteners
   While the tea is still hot, add the granulated sugar and optional tamarind paste. Stir until completely dissolved. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.
3. Mix dairy components
   In a large bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, whole milk, heavy cream, vanilla extract, salt, and optional ground cardamom until smooth and well combined.
4. Combine mixtures
   Slowly pour the cooled tea mixture into the dairy mixture, whisking continuously to ensure even distribution. The mixture should be a creamy orange-brown color.
5. Pour into molds
   Pour the mixture into popsicle molds, leaving about 1/4 inch of space at the top to allow for expansion during freezing. Insert popsicle sticks and secure according to your mold's instructions.
6. Freeze thoroughly
   Place the molds in the freezer and freeze until solid, at least 6 hours or preferably overnight for the best texture.
7. Remove from molds
   To remove popsicles, run the outside of the molds briefly under warm water to loosen. Gently pull the popsicles from the molds. If they don't release easily, run under warm water for a few more seconds.